Despite it being early days of the first ever Rebel Alliance Tour, van problems have already ensued, but that doesn’t stop Random Hand from returning to Newcastle, yet again, and, this time round, Faye manages to catch up with them, as they discuss the forthcoming departure of their drummer, the current state of UK ska-punk and their non-stop touring schedule, as well as a whole lot more!
Faye: Can you say your name and what you do in Random Hand?
Joe: I’m Joe Tilston, and I play bass and do a bit of ranting.
Robin: I’m Robin, and I play the trombone and I also rant.
Faye: How’s the tour been going so far? I heard you’ve being having some van problems…
Joe: We’ve had a shakey start, we’ve only been to two of the gigs so far out of four, but we’ve had a really good time so far and we’re friends, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Faye: Isn’t the other Joe, your drummer, leaving the band soon?
Robin: Yeah, he’s sort of doing the first half of this tour and then in the middle of the second half, we’re doing a date in Leeds, and that’s going to be his last proper show, which is obviously incredibly gutting for us, because he’s been in the band for seven years and a good mate of ours, but he decided it’s time to move on and do other things, you can begrudge him for it.
Faye: So, you’ve got a replacement sorted?
Robin: Yeah, we’ve got a guy line-up up who’s going to be able to do the rest of the stuff booked, and then we’re sort of looking for a few people to join as a full-time member after that, we’re still going to be going.
Joe: Yeah, it’s not stopping yet.
Faye: Have you got anything special planned for his last show?
Joe: It’s all a bit weird to think about right now, we’re just going to see what happens really. [laughs]
Robin: We might bake a cake, or something like that.
Joe: I might kiss him on the lips.
Posted by changetherecord 
Check out our photos from the last date of the Boom or Bust Tour in Newcastle, featuring Sonic Boom Six and The Skints, along with support from Random Hand and The Difference Engine, an emotional night as the Boom say goodbye to long-time member Ben Childs. Expect an interview with Sonic Boom Six to follow soon.
Check out our photos of ska-punkers Random Hand, during the last show of their recent two-week UK tour, via the link below!
As the crowd still gathers down in the dingy but somewhat homely depths of Trillians rock bar tonight, it’s almost impossible to tell just how many people might show for this one. There are no more than a handful of disinterested punters half-an-hour after doors, but this sharpishly picks up – after all, it should do, the collective is to witness a real treat tonight in the form of Yorkshire quartet Random Hand.
Time to bring out those chequered-slacks again, as the kings of ska, Reel Big Fish, are back in the UK! Faye was lucky enough to catch the sold-out Newcastle show.
